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Menopause

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Original poster

When did your periods become irregular?

28 replies

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 27/08/2023 13:07

I’m 41. I’m also very overweight- as an aside, does anyone know how an increased BMI affects menopause?

my period is about 3 weeks late. Prior to this, very regular and predictable. My boobs are sore. I have done a pregnancy test - negative- and my husband had a vasectomy about 7-8 years ago. So given all that, I’m having to assume this is the start of perimenopause. I’m struggling to adjust to this cos my mum didn’t really start till she was 50, and will use it as yet more evidence to fat shame me.

anyway…can anyone give me any ideas of when their periods stopped being regular and what I should be expecting now? I sort of feel like I’m staring into a scary abyss with no idea of what’s to come!!!!

OP posts:

NoShitHemlock · 27/08/2023 14:06

I am also very overweight and mine have started to become irregular within the last year (sometimes exactly on time, other times anything up to 6 weeks late) and I am 48. What I have noticed is the itch! I am constantly itchy all over and its driving me up the wall, but then I had "pregnancy itch" (cholestasis I think its called) for 9 months so I bloody knew I would end up itching with the perimenopause!

I haven't had any hot flashes, in fact I am always cold and with being overweight I would have expected at least night sweats. And I am constantly knackered - no real brain fog, just bone weary.

Anyway the reason I am saying all this is that your body will do what it wants when its ready - yes there are ages you can expect things to happen, but they are pretty vague. And there are so many different symptoms that you could get any number of them or very few of them.

goingtotown · 27/08/2023 14:29

51, I had no hot flushes night sweats mood changes weight gain no symptoms at all. Same as my mother.

TaniaBania · 27/08/2023 14:32

45 and my periods are now roughly 6 months apart.

Overweight is more often associated with late menopause than early so your mum can do one.

HarryBlackberry1 · 27/08/2023 14:47

I was 38 when my periods started going haywire. I'm 50 now, and post menopausal. On HRT, which has helped enormously.

justasoul · 27/08/2023 14:50

Mine never went back to regular after having DD aged 29. Last ever period 10 years later.

wheresmymojo · 27/08/2023 15:15

I'm the same age as you and a size 22 and mine are still as regular as clockwork so not sure if it's a 'because you're fat' thing...?

wheresmymojo · 27/08/2023 15:20

Just found this... research suggests that statistically the higher your BMI is, the later you reach menopause

Of course that doesn't mean that no-one with a higher BMI will ever start earlier but it does give you scientifically backed info to use to tell your DM to mind her own business

Pollywoddles · 27/08/2023 15:22

Why do you need to tell your mother about your cycle? I don’t think I’ve discussed my menstrual cycle with my mother since I started my periods.

RuthW · 27/08/2023 15:27

Irregular from age 50 ish. Menopause was aged 53.

fiorentina · 27/08/2023 15:33

More frequent from early 40s generally. However occasionally I’ve been v late, sometimes due to travelling or a stressful event? Could it be that. Lowish BMI in my case.

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 27/08/2023 15:36

I've been every 28 days my whole life.

Last two months a day or two early. Im 45.

I would think this is the start of perimenopause for me.

Moonberri · 27/08/2023 15:39

I think being overweight increases oestrogen. Which is why a higher BMI leads to later menopause. (Unfortunately it can also increase risk of female cancers for the same reason).

beatrix1234 · 27/08/2023 15:40

I'm 55, very slim (have always been), very regular periods all my life till last year at 54 they started to get "weird, came too late or too soon. This year I've noticed they're coming every 2 or 3 months. I have no menopause symptoms whatsoever. I do feel that those rare times I get my period my oestrogen fall has me feeling absolutely run down (psychologically speaking) for 3 days like it's never happened before to the point my GP has suggested anti-depressants for those 3 days, Instead I've started taking a powerful vitamin complex for women over 50, it's working beautiful.

I got blood tests last month for hormones and was told that I'm post-menopausal, makes no sense to me as I'm still getting periods.

Original poster

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 27/08/2023 15:43

Thank you… and I will be sure to tell her to do one!! I asked her just because I wanted to know when she started in the hope of giving me some idea of an expectation. As frequently happens, I wished I kept my mouth shut.

interesting about the BMI and later menopause thing….

im tired, but sicky… maybe I should do another pregnancy test too

thank you everyone

OP posts:

Moonberri · 27/08/2023 15:44

beatrix1234 · 27/08/2023 15:40

I got blood tests last month for hormones and was told that I'm post-menopausal, makes no sense to me as I'm still getting periods.

Could you tell us the name of the vitamin complex?

beatrix1234 · 27/08/2023 15:48

Moonberri · 27/08/2023 15:44

Could you tell us the name of the vitamin complex?

Show quote history

centrum women 50+.
No I don't have shares in the company or trying to make promotion. I take one a day, crush it and put it on my food as tablets are pretty big and difficult to swallow.

Moonberri · 27/08/2023 15:53

Thanks. I think I'll give it a go.

Ponderingwindow · 27/08/2023 15:53

49 and periods are irregular just now.

some hot flashes and night sweats, but really easy to adapt to that. Cooling sheets and switched to an open knit Style weighted blanket.

SM4713 · 27/08/2023 15:57

There was a recent thread about 1st peri symptoms which I'll post if I can find it.

I'm obese, BMI of 34, now aged 45. My periods are still very regular, but have been coming closer together for about 4 yrs. My cycle was bang on 32days for years, and slowly its shortened to 27 days now. No hot flushes or other symptoms. People on the other thread said that they can shorten like mine are doing- and then lengthen- eventually to nothing!

Your mum sounds awful OP- I wouldn't be mentioning any of your personal health to her in future x

lljkk · 27/08/2023 16:13

How do you define irregular?

Original poster

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 27/08/2023 16:16

I don’t have a definition I’m afraid. I’ve been regular as anything until this month and am now 3 weeks late. Just looking for any info that might help

OP posts:

lljkk · 27/08/2023 16:28

My only useful thought for you is to check if you might have PCOS. The risk for that is higher for obese people. PCOS makes cycles very unpredictable.

My periods were 22-40+ days apart. Sometimes they might be 22 day cycles for say, 10 months, and then it would change to something else. So I would say mine were always irregular (adult DD seems similar). Is why I can't even answer the question. Until I read Menop threads on MN I thought irregular periods, or random irregular periods between spells of being very regular, was an extremely common experience.

Original poster

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 27/08/2023 18:06

That’s interesting. Would that apply if I’ve been regular right up until now though? My only prior changes in cycle have been before and after kids.

OP posts:

Saschka · 27/08/2023 18:09

Um, just because nobody else has mentioned this - you sure you aren’t pregnant? Would be more likely at 41 than premature menopause I would have thought…

Saschka · 27/08/2023 18:10

And, just spotted your DH has had a vasectomy, so ignore me.

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